Page 77 of Tides of Resistance
‘We overpowered the sailors when we arrived. Luckily, there were only two of them on night watch. I knew we’d need aboat for a quick getaway to England once we got you out. We couldn’t go back to Brittany with Alain. Fabian is disguised as a fisherman, so they should get back in easily enough.’
‘So that’s where you got the uniforms!’ Lizzie said.
Jack didn’t say how they disposed of the German sailors, and Lizzie didn’t ask. Fabian had already bid them farewell in the grounds before he darted down the path to the cove where Alain awaited him for their return journey to St. Lunaire.
Jack settled Lizzie on a bench inside the wheelhouse and started the engine of the boat. They talked as they raced through the night, the vessel pulsing as it sliced across the waves, heading towards the coast of England in the moonlight.
Lizzie had a million questions about how Jack had rescued her.
‘You didn’t think I would see your message and just sit and wait for you at Baker Street when you were going into Jersey on a suicide mission alone, did you?’
‘I suppose I should have known you would come, but things moved so fast I didn’t have time to think. I hoped you would understand I had to go.’
‘Oh, I understood, alright!’ Jack said, his tone sardonic. ‘I kicked myself for not anticipating what you would do. It was stupid of me.’
‘I didn’t plan it in advance. But when I heard they were turning Portelet into a fortress on Hitler’s orders, I knew it would be my last chance to get in. And I had to confirm the plans were real,’ she added.
‘Well, from what I saw of Seagrove, it certainly looks like they plan to use it as the base for a major fortification.’
‘I took photos of the Portelet sites this morning.That’s what got me caught! The work is still in the early stages, so it was worth the risk to deliver a detailed report to Churchill.’
‘Tell it to Val!’ he said. ‘I don’t envy you that debrief, but I suppose you have a reasonable excuse for undertaking such a perilous mission unsanctioned.’
Lizzie laughed, the sound echoing through the boat. ‘Val is a piece of cake compared to you. She loves my bold operations.’
‘Get down!’ Jack shouted as a German boat appeared in the distance.
Lizzie threw herself onto the deck, and Jack stood tall, still wearing his full German naval uniform.
She held her breath and waited, not daring to move or make a sound, despite her physical discomfort.
Minutes passed before she heard the loud blast of a horn, and when she raised her head slightly, she saw Jack salute.
‘Stay down,’ Jack warned.
Lizzie crouched on the deck, praying they wouldn’t be stopped. Her endurance had reached its limit.
‘It’s safe now,’ Jack said eventually.
Lizzie stumbled to her feet and saw the coast was clear. ‘That was close.’
‘Yes, without the uniform they’d have been onto us. It was Fabian’s idea. That’s quite a cousin you’ve got there.’
‘Yes, and you should meet Sophie!’
Lizzie moved into Jack’s arms, and they stood together holding onto each other tightly for a while.
‘Thank you for saving me.’
Jack dropped a tender kiss onto her forehead. ‘That’s my job.’
Lizzie said, ‘One more thing—how on earth did you get here so quickly? One minute you were in London and then suddenly you were storming Seagrove. I thought I was dreaming when you burst in!’
Jack glanced at the fuel gauge and then looked at Lizzie. ‘As soon as I read your message, I told Val what you were doing, and she relented and agreed you needed emergency backup.That night they dropped me near the farmhouse, and I searched for Fabian, who told me you should be back in the morning. That was a long night! Then, Alain arrived without you, and we organised the rescue, pretending to be his fishing crew.’
It all made sense now.
Lizzie said, ‘I’m so glad I followed your orders and shared my location. Honestly, I thought it was the end when that bastard showed up at the house.’
